John Haskell King was born, according to his
grave marker in Arlington National Cemetery, in Sackets Harbor, New York,
February 19, 1820. His Army file, however, reflects that he was born in
Michigan, where he was taken by his parents as young boy.

In any event, he was appointed a Second Lieutenant
of the 1st United States Infantry from Michigan, two months before his
18th birthday and was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1839, and to Captain
in 1846 1846. He served in Florida against the Seminoles, on the frontier
at Vera Cruz during Mexican War, and in Texas where, at the beginning of
Civil War, he defied insurgent authorities and brought 9companies of Regulars
safely to New York. He commanded detachments of Regular troops at Shiloh,
Corinth, and at the battle of Mufreesboro (Stone's River), where he was
wounded.

In April 1863, he was appointed Brigadier General
of Volunteers to rank from November 29, 1862, and at the first day at Chickamauga
again commanded a brigade of Regulars in Baird's Division of George Thomas'
XIV Corps, which along with Brannan's Division of the same corps, "were
thoroughly beaten up, fell back and were practically out of action for
the rest of the day." The following day, however, they fought magnificently
on Horseshoe Ridge, doing much to save Rosecrans' Army from destruction
and sustaining largest number of casualties of the battle. In the course
of the Atlanta Campaign he was in brigade and divisional command, and was
present at Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, and Peachtree Creek,
commanding for a time the 1st Division of IV Corps. From July 1864 until
the end of the war he commanded a brigade of five battalions of Regulars
in the District of the Etowah under General James B. Steedman. He was brevetted
Major General in the Regular Army on March 13, 1865, and in the Volunteer
service on May 31, 1865.

At end of the Civil War, and a year before
the reorganization of the Army in 1866, he was promoted to Colonel of the
9th United States Infantry. He then served at various stations on the western
frontier until he was retired for age in 1882. He then made home in Washington,
D.C., where he died, April 7, 1888. He was buried with full military honors
in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery under a stone which reads,
in part,

"Until the day breaks and the shadows flee
away."

KING, JOHN HBVT MAJOR GEN USADATE OF DEATH: 04/07/1888BURIED AT: SECTION 1 SITE 22ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY